Appoints South Africa’s Jaco Peyper for the Super Rugby final 2017.

Despite widespread calls for a neutral official, Sanzaar has appointed South Africa’s Jaco Peyper to referee the Super Rugby final between the Lions and Crusaders in Johannesburg early Sunday (NZT).

Peyper, who refereed the semifinal between the Lions and Hurricanes, will have the whistle for the final (kickoff 2am Sunday NZT), with New Zealand’s Glen Jackson, who refereed the Crusaders-Chiefs semifinal, and Marius van der Westhuizen as his assistants.

The Television Match Official (TMO) is Marius Jonker.

The decision by the competition’s governing body to ignore pleas for a neutral referee for the final were justified by organisers adamant their “merit-based” appointment system remains the correct procedure.